The Details of Modern Greek Phonetics and Phonology

What is it that distinguishes the pronunciation of a native
speaker of Modern Greek from that of a learner of the language?
As is the case with every other natural language, there are a few
tips, tricks, and details that nearly no book on pronunciation
mentions. Read the following if you intend to perfect your Modern
Greek pronunciation, or if you are simply curious and interested
to see what distinguishes Modern Greek phonetics and phonology
from that of your own language. You can hear sounds of the
example-words from a native speaker, the
author of this text (click on the speaker-icon next to each word to
hear its pronunciation).

I am assuming you are already familiar with the Greek alphabet, and hence with the
pronunciation of each letter individually. This page lists the
cases where the pronunciation of letters changes according to
their surroundings. The list is meant to be exhaustive there are no other cases
of differing pronunciation in Greek depending on context, to the
best of my knowledge. Modern Greek is supposed to be an almost
what-you-read-is-what-you-speak language, not as "pure"
as Spanish or Italian, but certainly much more
predictable than English or French. Here is a list of topics
discussed in this page:

Note: when I put a letter in brackets, like this: [o], I refer
to the sound of the letter; otherwise, the printed
letter is shown without brackets. Actually, what I put in
brackets is not letters, but IPA (International Phonetic
Alphabet) symbols, all of which can be seen here (with Greek sounds
highlighted).

[s] [z] in front of voiced consonants

When the letter σ (σίγμα, which stand-alone is
pronounced [s]) is found before a voiced consonant except λ,
(i.e., β, γ, δ, μ, ν, ρ), it is pronounced as the letter ζ
(ζήτα), that is, [z]. Examples:

σβήνω: [zv`ino] (= I
erase, I delete, I extinguish, I turn off)

σγουρός: [zγur`os]
(= curly)

κόσμος: [k`ozmos]
(= world, people)

Ισραήλ: [izra`il]
(= Israel)

The same transformation takes place even if σ is the last
letter of a word (thus, in writing it appears as "final
sigma": ς) and the next word starts with a voiced
consonant. Examples:

ο κόσμος μου: [o
k`ozmozmu] (= my world)

τους δύο: [tuz`io]
(= the two)

When reading in slow speed, however, or speaking emphatically,
it is possible to notice the cancellation of the between-words
[s][z]
transformation.

Notice that the letter λ, although voiced, does not always
effect this transformation on σ. Some people, though, may
perform this transformation for a final ς even before a λ.
Examples:

σλόγκαν: [sl`ogan]
(= slogan, motto)

καλός λόγος: [kal`os
l`oγos] or: [kal`oz l`oγos] (= good word)

μ followed by π, ν followed by τ, and γ
followed by κ or γ

In the page of the Greek alphabet
it was explained that the letters μπ, when found together, are
pronounced as [b]; the letters ντ, also together, are
pronounced as [d]; and the letters γκ or γγ together are
pronounced as [g]. In reality, the rule is not so simple.

What happens is that μπ is pronounced as [b], ντ as [d],
and γκ as [g] only in the beginning of a word, or after a
consonant (which is usually ρ); or sometimes when the word is a foreign loanword. Let's call these the
"dry" versions of μπ, ντ, and γκ. (Note that γγ
never appears at the beginning of a word or after a consonant, so
there is no "dry" version of it.) Examples:

μπροστά: [brost`a]
(= in front)

μπάρμπας: [b`arbas]
(~ uncle, "guy" [slang])

κόμπρα: [k`obra] (=
cobra)

ντροπή: [drop`i]
(= shame)

χουβαρντάς: [xuvard`as]
(= generous)

Φλόριντα: [fl`orida]
(= Florida)

γκρεμός: [grem`os]
(= cliff)

αργκώ: [arg`o] (=
argot)

αντίο: [ad`io] (=
goodbye)

In all other cases
(and note that these are the majority), μπ, ντ, and γκ/γγ
become nasalised, and are pronounced as [mb], [nd] and [g],
respectively. Examples:

εμπρός: [embr`os]
(= ahead, hello!)

καμπάνα: [kamb`ana]
(= church bell)

κουμπί: [kumb`i]
(= button)

άντρας: [`andras]
(= man)

πόντος: [p`ondos]
(= sea, point)

εντελώς: [endel`os]
(= completely)

όγκος: [`ogos] (=volume, tumor)

πάγκος: [p`agos] (= bench)

αγγούρι: [ag`uri] (= cucumber)

It should be noted that although it is nearly acceptable to
turn the nasalized version of these sounds to their corresponding
"dry" ones (as in [ebr`os] for εμπρός, but not in
formal speech), it is unacceptable (wrong pronunciation)
to turn the "dry" sounds into nasal ones. For example,
the pronunciation [mb`armbas]
(for μπάρμπας, see example above) will never be uttered
by a native speaker of Greek.(1)

At word-boundaries: [n p][mb], [n t][nd], and [n
k][g]

A phenomenon similar to the previous one occurs at
word-boundaries: when a word ends in [n], then if the following
word starts with [p] (and both words belong to the same part of
speech, i.e., there is no pause due to a period, semicolon,
comma, etc.) what happens is that the [n] changes to [m] and the
[p] to [b]. Similarly, if the following word starts with [t], we
have the transformation [n t][nd]; and if it starts with [k] we have [n
k][g].
Examples:

τον πόνο: [tomb`ono]
(= the pain)

τον τόνο: [tond`ono]
(= the tune)

την κόρη: [tig`ori] (= the daughter)

These transformations are very common due to the high
frequency of occurrence of the definite
article forms τον, την (singular, accusative case of
masculine and feminine genders), and των (plural, genitive,
all genders). Notice that it is only [n] that can cause these
transformations, not [m], because in Greek there are no words
ending in [m] (or, if there are any foreign loanwords, such as
τραμ, they are usually nouns, causing a momentary pause in
speech, which cancels this phonetic transformation).

Note also that this transformation is not universal
among native speakers. Some native speakers (a small percentage,
I believe) do not perform them, especially the second
([n t][nd])
and the third one ([n k][g]), and especially when they want
to speak exceptionally clearly (like anchormen/women). I
myself do not do these transformations in my more phrases pages, precisely for this
reason. But I am sure I perform them when I talk to other native
Greek speakers.

The ingma ([]): when it appears

As mentioned in the alphabet page,
the typical case where the sound []
appears is in front of a velar consonant (sounds [k],
[γ], [x], letters κ, γ, χ), and is denoted by the letter γ
before the velar consonant. Examples:

άγχος: [`axos]
(= anxiety)

έλεγχος: [`elexos]
(= checking)

πλαγκτόν: [plakt`on]
(= plankton)

In addition, a [] is produced also whenever a final
[n] appears before an initial velar consonant (including [g]) at
word-boundaries. Examples:

τον γάμο: [toγ`amo]
(= the wedding)

τον χρόνο: [toxr`ono]
(= the time)

τον γκρεμό: [togrem`o]
(= the cliff)

A third case where [] appears was already mentioned in a
prior paragraph: it is when the digraph γκ or γγ appears
after a vowel, and so is nasalized, pronounced as [g]. For
examples, see this paragraph,
above.

Palatalization

The phenomenon of palatalization (a.k.a. palatization) is the single most important
phonetic phenomenon of the Modern Greek language, and the one
that largely distinguishes the speech of a native speaker from
that of a second-language learner. Most native speakers of Greek
are not even aware of this phenomenon. (Naturally, because it is a
phonetic, not a phonological aspect of the
language.) However, it is interesting that when Greeks want to
mockingly imitate the non-native Greek pronunciation of
foreigners, the main trick they do is that they avoid palatalization (because non-native speakers almost always omit
it), but without being aware of doing so! That is, the average
Greek is a proficient master of the phenomenon, and can even
reproduce its omission from the language, but is not
consciously aware of it does not have access to the concept as a single
idea, in cognitive terms. The following paragraphs will describe
this concept. If you are a non-native speaker interested in the
language, you will learn (consciously) something almost all
Greeks know only subconsciously. If you are a native speaker of
Greek, chances are you'll be surprised by what you'll read. So,
let's start. What is palatalization in Greek?

1. Regular Palatalization

The
notion of palatalization refers to the change of four
consonants, [k], [γ], [x], and [g], from the velar
column of this table
to the preceding palatal one, if the vowel that follows
is either [i] or [e].

Also, two consonants of the alveolar column, [n], and
[l] switch to their corresponding palatal ones if the
vowel that follows is [i] (but not [e]).

Notice that when I say "the vowel that follows is
[i]", I mean that, in writing, this can be any of the
six ways to write [i] in Greek: η, ι, υ, ει, οι, or
υι (note: the last digraph, υι, is extremely rare).
Similarly, "the vowel that follows is [e]" means
either of the two ways to write [e], that is, either ε or
αι.

Let us see examples of palatalization of the velar consonants:

[k][c]

[γ][]

[x][]

[g][]

+ η

κήπος: [c`ipos]
(= garden)

γη: [`i]
(= earth, ground)

χήρα: [`ira]
(= widow)

κλαγγή: [kla`i]
(= clang)

+ ι

παπάκι: [pap`aci]
(= duckling)

γίνομαι: [`inome]
(= I become)

όχι: [`oi]
(= no)

αγκίστρι: [a`istri]
(= fishhook)

+ υ

κύμα: [c`ima] (= wave)

γυναίκα: [in`eka]
(= woman)

παχύς: [pa`is]
(= fat)

έγκυρο: [`eiro]
(= valid)

+ ει

εκείνο: [ec`ino]
(= that one)

γείτονας: [`itonas]
(= neighbor)

έχει: [`ei]
(= has)

φέγγει: [f`ei]
(= shines)

+ οι

κοιμάμαι: [cim`ame]
(= I sleep)

υπουργοί: [ipur`i]
(= ministers)

χοίρος: [`iros]
(= swine)

μουγγοί: [mu`i]
(= mute people)

+ ε

κενό: [cen`o] (= empty,
void)

γέρος: [`eros]
(= old man)

χέρι: [`eri]
(= hand)

άγγελος: [`aelos]
(= angel)

+ αι

και: [c`e] (= and)

πηγαίνω: [pi`eno]
(= I go)

χαίρετε: [`erete]
(= hello)

εγκαίρως: [e`eros]
(= in time)

The fact that many of the above words are commonplace gives a
first indication of the frequency with which palatalization
occurs in the language. Still, there is a lot more to follow. Let
us see now some examples of palatalization of the alveolar
consonants:

[n][]

[l][]

+ η

φωνή: [fo`i]
(= voice)

καλή: [ka`i]
(= nice, good)

+ ι

πανί: [pa`i]
(= cloth)

λίγο: [`iγo]
(= a little bit)

+ υ

νυστάζω: [ist`azo]
(= I feel sleepy)

πολύ: [po`i]
(= a lot)

+ ει

όνειρο: [`oiro]
(= dream)

κλείνω: [k`ino]
(= I close)

+ οι

ανοίγω: [a`iγo]
(= I open)

λοιπόν: [ip`on]
(= well, so, thus)

Note, however, that the palatalization of the alveolar consonants [n] and [l]
followed by [i] varies in degree among regions of Greece. Athenians palatalize
them a little bit, whereas people in some villages of
Peloponnesus
palatalize them a lot (to the point that Athenians — who are silly enough to
feel “people of the capital” — make fun of them).

I mentioned earlier that the alveolar [n] and [l] do not
become palatalized before [e]. That is, the letter-sequences νε
and ναι are pronounced as: [ne]; similarly, λε and λαι
are pronouced: [le]. Does this mean that the sounds [e] and [e] do
not exist in Greek? Not at all quite the contrary! They are very common. To write
these last two sounds, an [i] (usually iota: ι) is inserted
between the alveolar consonant and [e]. Examples, for all cases
(palatalized and regular):

Palatalized ([e],
[e])

Unpalatalized ([ne], [le])

+ ιε

κουνιέμαι: [ku`eme]
(= I am shaking)

+ ε

νερό: [ner`o] (= water)

+ ιαι

+ αι

ναι: [n`e] (= yes)

+ ιε

ελιές: [e`es]
(= olives)

+ ε

βλέπω: [vl`epo]
(= I see)

+ ιαι

+ αι

κλαίω: [kl`eo]
(= I cry)

You may have noticed that I failed to find any examples of
νιαι and λιαι, pronounced [e]
and [e], respectively, as one syllable. These
sequences of letters do exist in written language, but they
are pronounced as two syllables: [ie]
and [ie] (not a diphthong, as in Spanish, but
two syllables). Still, I cannot rule out the possibility that
such monosyllabic examples exist.

Now, the previous observation about [e] (i.e., that alveolar
consonants can be palatalized before [e], except that in writing
this is denoted with the insertion of an [i]), can be generalized
to all vowels (except [i], of course). That is, to write [ca]
(i.e., the palatalized [k] followed by [a]) an iota is inserted
between κ and α. Thus, κια is pronounced [ca]. Similarly,
[co] corresponds in writing to κιο (or κιω), and [cu]
corresponds to κιου. The same remark applies to all other
consonants we have examined so far. Examples:

+ [a]

+ [o]

+ [u]

[k][c]

φύκια: [f`ica]
(= seaweeds)

κιόλας: [c`olas]
(= already)

ρυακιού: [riac`u]
(= of water-stream)

[γ][]

γιαγιά: [a`a]
(= grandma)

γιορτή: [ort`i]
(= celebration)

γιου: [`u]
(= son's)

[x][]

βράχια: [vr`aa]
(= rocks)

χιόνι: [`oi]
(= snow)

συναχιού: [sina`u]
(= of running nose)

[g][]

μαγκιά: [ma`a]
(= machismo)

Γκιώνα: [`ona]
(~ a Greek mountain)

σπαραγγιού: [spara`u]
(= of asparagus)

[n][]

νιάτα: [`ata]
(= youth)

καπετάνιος: [kapet`aos]
(= captain)

αρνιού: [ar`u]
(= of lamb)

[l][]

πουλιά: [pu`a]
(= birds)

ήλιος: [`ios]
(= sun)

φασολιού: [faso`u]
(= of bean)

It is important to understand that, in
all the above examples, what you see written as an iota (ι) is
not pronounced as [i]; it merely serves to denote the
palatalization of the previous consonant. The entire [consonant +
ι + vowel] is one syllable. It's not even a diphthong,
as in Spanish nieve (= snow);
it is just a single palatalized consonant followed by a single
vowel ([a], [o], [u], or even [e]). This is what distinguishes
the speech of learners from that of native speakers: learners
typically insert an [i] (even a very faint and short one) between
the consonant (which they fail to palatalize) and the vowel. For
example, suppose there were in Greek a word like νιέβε (a
transliteration of Spanish nieve). Here is how a native
speaker of Greek would pronounce this hypothetical word: [`eve] (as if the Spanish word were ñeve).
Compare that with the way a native speaker of Spanish(2)
pronounces the actual Spanish word nieve: [n`(ie)βe] (two syllables, with [(ie)] forming a
diphthong, and [n] being the regular alveolar sound).

The truth is that, even for a native speaker of Greek, it is
impossible to pronounce one of these palatalized consonants and
then go to the vowel without having the tongue pass from the
position in the mouth-cavity where a very short [i] must be
produced. This may be the reason why Greeks "feel" they
pronounce an [i], and show this in their writing. That is, phonologically
(in the Greek native speaker's mind) there is an unpalatalized
consonant, an [i], and a vowel; but phonetically (in
actual sounds, as recorded and shown in a spectrogram) there is a
palatalized consonant, the faintest idea of an [i], and a vowel.

Finally, let's note that an earlier observation, in which I said that
Athenians palatalize "a little bit" the alveolars [n] and [l] if followed by [i]
(i.e., νι and λι), is not
true if the vowel that follows is not [i]. That is, νια, νιε,
νιο, νιου, and λια, λιε, λιο, λιου are always
palatalized by everybody, whether peasant in the countryside, or President of
the Republic.

2. Forced Palatalization

Everything in the previous sub-paragraph, under the heading Regular
Palatalization, was about the change of six consonants:
[k], [γ], [x], [g], [n], and [l]. In this sub-paragraph we'll
see that all the rest of the Greek consonants can be
"palatalized". But how does one palatalize a consonant
such as [v] (letter β), for example, which is a labiodental
fricative sound, when its corresponding palatal fricative sound [] has
already been "taken" for the palatalization of [γ]?

Please see the
table mentioned several times in this page, else you will
not understand why [] "corresponds" to
[v]: it is because in the table [v], [],
and [γ] are all voiced fricatives (they are on the
same row), but the first is labiodental, the second palatal,
and the third velar.

Simple: [v] is "palatalized" by inserting a
[]
between it and the following vowel. So, when in Greek we write
βια (and the stress is not over ι), we pronounce [va], as
if we had written βγια. We'll see that there are exceptions,
but this is true in the overwhelming majority of cases. I call
this phenomenon "forced palatalization" because it does
not result in a change in quality of [v], but in the insertion of
a true palatal. Just like [v], every voiced consonant
(other than the "regulars" [γ], [g], [n], and [l]),
when palatalized, results in the insertion of the voiced palatal
[]
between itself and the following vowel. Similarly, every unvoiced
consonant (other than the "regulars" [k] and [x]), when
palatalized, results in the insertion of the unvoiced palatal []. So,
for example, φια is pronounced [fa], as
if we had written φχια. The only exception among the voiced
consonants is [m], a nasal, which (predictably enough) is
palatalized by the insertion of the only nasal palatal sound: []. So,
μια is pronounced [ma], as if we had written μνια.
Let us see as many examples as are necessary to make sense of
these rules.

voiced consonants

+ [a]

+ [e]

+ [o]

+ [u]

[v][v]

κουνάβια [kun`ava]
(= skunks)

καραβιές [karav`es]
(= shipments)

βιος [v`os]
(= belongings)

καραβιού [karav`u]
(= of ship)

[b][b]

κουμπιά [kumb`a]
(= buttons)

κάμπιες [k`ambes]
(= caterpillars)

λαμπιόνι [lamb`oi]
(= little light)

κομπιούτερ [kob`uter]
(= computer)

[][]

διαβάζω [av`azo]
(= I read)

ποδιές [po`es]
(= aprons)

δυο [`o]
(= two)

ποδιού [po`u]
(= of leg, of foot)

[d][d]

κατάντια [kat`anda]
(= wretchedness)

παντιέρα [pand`era]
(= banner)

δοντιών [ond`on]
(= of teeth)

δοντιού [ond`u]
(= of tooth)

[z][z]

γρανάζια [γran`aza]
(= gears)

ντουζιέρα [duz`era]
(= shower)

καρπουζιών [karpuz`on]
(= of watermelons)

τραπεζιού [trapez`u]
(= of table)

[r][r]

χέρια [`era]
(= hands, arms)

βαριέμαι [var`eme]
(= I am bored)

θεριό [θer`o]
(= ferocious animal)

ποτηριού [potir`u]
(= of drinking glass)

[m][m]

μια [m`a]
(= one (fem.))

καλαμιές [kalam`es]
(= canebrake)

καμιόνι [kam`oi]
(= truck)

ποταμιού [potam`u]
(= of river)

Let it be noted that an additional column, titled "+
[i]", could be appended to the above table, because there
are some cases where we have two successive [i]'s in writing, but
the first one forces the palatalization of the previous
consonant. Examples: ίδιοι [`ii] (=
same ones (masc.)), καινούριοι [cen`uri] (=
new ones (masc.)). However, such examples are rather rare.

Also note that when we write the word μια (= one, feminine
gender) without stress, it is understood that this is one
syllable (that's why the stress doesn't need to be shown over
alpha), hence, pronounced: [m`a].
There is an alternative (and equally common) pronunciation: [m`ia] (same word, same meaning); in this case we
write the stress over iota: μία, since we pronounce the two
vowels as two syllables. A similar remark applies to δυο: [`o], versus δύο: [`io]. In
each case, although the meaning is the same, the stress mark
shows in writing which of the two pronunciations is intended.
(See rules for placing the
accent marks to denote stress in writing, for more details.)

unvoiced consonants

+ [a]

+ [e]

+ [o]

+ [u]

[f][f]

καρφιά [karf`a]
(= nails)

κούφιες [k`ufes]
(= hollow (pl.))

αφιόνι [af`oi]
(= opium poppy)

ραφιού [raf`u]
(= of shelf)

[p][p]

πιάνο [p`ano]
(= piano)

όποιες [`opes]
(= whichever)

πιοτό [pot`o]
(= drink)

κουνουπιού [kunup`u]
(= of mosquito)

[][]

ρεβύθια [rev`iθa]
(= chickpeas)

αρμαθιές [armaθ`es]
(= bundles)

βαθιών [vaθ`on]
(= of deep (pl.))

καλαθιού [kalaθ`u]
(= of basket)

[t][t]

φτιάχνω [ft`axno]
(= I construct)

ματιές [mat`es]
(= looks)

κουτιών [kut`on]
(of boxes)

χαρτιού [xart`u]
(= of paper)

[s][s]

σιάζω [s`azo]
(= I straighten up)

ίσιες [`ises]
(= straight (pl., fem.))

περίσσιο [per`iso]
(= extra, odd)

κερασιού [ceras`u]
(= of cherry)

[(ts)][(ts)]

κλωτσιά [klo(ts)`a]
(= kick)

κλωτσιές [klo(ts)`es]
(= kicks)

καροτσιών [karo(ts)`on]
(of carriages)

κοριτσιού [kori(ts)`u]
(= girl's)

[(ks)][(ks)]

μοναξιά [mona(ks)`a]
(= loneliness)

ρουφηξιές [rufi(ks)`es]
(= sips)

αλλαξιών [ala(ks)`on]
(= of underwear)

μεταξιού [meta(ks)`u]
(= of silk)

[(ps)][(ps)]

κοψιά [ko(ps)`a]
(= cut)

ανηψιές [ai(ps)`es]
(= nieces)

ανηψιών [ai(ps)`on]
(= of nieces, of nephews)

ανηψιού [ai(ps)`u]
(= nephew's)

(A note on my notation: when I write two consonants in
parentheses, such as (ts), (ks), and (ps), I mean that those two
consonants must be pronounced one after the other as rapidly as
possible, making nearly a single unit. I mention this because
non-native speakers tend to insert a faint puff of air between
the two consonants, which should be avoided in Greek.)

The previous note about an additional column titled "+
[i]" could be repeated for the unvoiced consonants, too.
Examples: ποιοι [p`i] (= which ones (masc.)), πιει
[p`i]
(=s/he/it will drink) (note that there is no stress mark on the
previous words, because they consist of a single syllable),
ίσιοι [`isi] (= straight (pl., masc.)). As before, such
examples are rather rare.

Also, the earlier note about the pronunciation of μια vs.
μία generalizes to this rule: whenever there is a stress over
[i] (usually the iota), there is no forced palatalization,
and the [i] and the following vowel make up two syllables. In the
examples below I show the separation of syllables in
pronunciation:

As can be inferred from the previous examples on voiced and
unvoiced consonants, the phenomenon of palatalization (whether
regular or forced) in Greek is very common because several
morphological changes of nouns denoting plural, genitive case, or
nominative case in the feminine gender, are such that they imply
palatalization. This is part of the reason that explains the
predominance of palatalization in the language.

3. Exceptions in Forced Palatalization

For native Greek speakers, to avoid regular palatalization is
impossible: the sounds [ke], [xe], [ni], etc., do not exist in the repertoire of
Greek phonetics. (The corresponding "correct" ones are [ce], [e], [i], etc.) Forced palatalization, however,
includes several exceptions.

Of course, all these exceptions make it hard, if not downright
impossible, to know how to pronounce a word given its written
form. Native speakers of Greek probably think this is a problem
for learners of the language, only. They'd think that once one
knows Greek natively, one knows how to read properly (i.e., given
the written form of a word, one knows how to pronounce it). They
couldn't be more wrong! There are a few cases where the pronunciation is
strictly ambiguous, even for native speakers, who I suspect will
be surprised by the following examples (I give them together with
some context, else it is not clear what the words refer to):

When the above words shown in red are encountered out of
context there is no way to know how to pronounce them, or which
of the two meanings is intended.

Notice that the unpalatalized version (second row in each
example) adds an extra syllable to the word. For example, the
palatalized άδεια is formed by two syllables: [`a-a]; whereas the unpalatalized
άδεια is formed by three syllables: [`a-i-a].

Note: the phrasing "when [i] is
inserted in writing" means that one of the six ways
to write the sound [i] in Greek (ι, η, υ, ει, οι, and
υι) is inserted before the vowel, and after the palatalized
consonant. This is a mere writing convention, because in
terms of sounds the [i] is hardly present.

Thanks to Greg Brush for providing the above summary.

Silencing of unstressed vowels between
unvoiced consonants

This is not a rule of pronunciation that you have to learn or
else you won't be pronouncing right, but a phenomenon that occurs
very frequently, so if you are aware of it you won't be surprised
by what you hear. The phenomenon occurs when an unstressed vowel
is between two unvoiced consonants in a word, as in the word άσος (= ace), where the unstressed [o] is
between two [s]'s, and [s] is an unvoiced consonant. Then the
vowel is often not voiced. How can a vowel not be
voiced? Well, you pronounce it as you would if you whispered it.
Here are a few more examples: άνοστος
(= tasteless), αλλόκοτος (= weird), λύσης (= of solution), μίσους (= of hatred). Two notes here:
first, this is an optional phonetic transformation,
which means that sometimes you'll hear native speakers producing
it, sometimes not. And second, native Greek speakers are not
aware of it: they think they always pronounce the vowel normally.
But you, as a non-native learner of the language, do not have the
"tuned" ear of a native speaker, so you notice all
the details. (There is nothing wrong with you, this is a
well-known phenomenon.) So don't ever start an argument with a
native speaker about the way they really speak —
they're not going to agree with you, but you'll know you are
right.

Disambiguation of some three-consonant
combinations

Strictly speaking, what is described in this paragraph does
not concern any phonetic phenomenon, but refers to an ambiguity
that may be perceived by learners of the language in writing,
when the three-letter combinations ντσ, and ντζ are
encountered in some words, for example: βίντσι,
μπρούντζος. Although the
native speaker of Greek knows how to read these words (because
their pronunciation is known), the learner may interpret the
three consonants as either ντ+σ (and ντ+ζ), or ν+τσ (and
ν+τζ). To clear out any ambiguity, let us note that the second
interpretation is always correct, that is, these consonants
are always expected to be read as ν+τσ and ν+τζ. Examples:

βίντσι [v`in(ts)i]
(= winch, windlass)

μπρούντζος [br`un(dz)os]
(= bronze)

σκαντζόχοιρος [skan(dz)`oiros]
(= hedgehog, porcupine)

γάντζος [γ`an(dz)os]
(= hook)

παντζάρι [pan(dz)`ari]
(= beet)

ευφ- and ευβ-

That double consonant letters are pronounced as a single
consonantal sound has already been noted somewhere in the alphabet page. For
example: κόκκινο [k`ocino] (= red), Σάββατο
[s`avato] (= Saturday), αλλεπάλληλα [alep`aila] (=
one after the other). But there are two cases that might confuse
the learner: words that start with ευφ- and ευβ-. In the
case of ευφ-, since ευ is in front of a voiceless consonant
([f]), it must be pronounced as [ef]. But then what happens with
the following φ? Does it result in a second [f] sound after
[ef]? No, the rule that says "pronounce double consonants as
single" applies here, too. For example, the adjective
εύφορο, -ρη, -ρος (= fertile) is pronounced [`eforo];
also: ευφράδεια [efr`aia] (=
eloquence, fluency), ευφυΐα(3) [efi`ia] (= intelligence),
ευφωνία [efo`ia] (= euphony). All these are
words that start with the prefix ευ-, meaning "well-"
in ancient Greek, followed by various stems starting with φ-.
Similarly, there is a single word starting with ευβ-: it's the
proper name Εύβοια [`evia], the name of the second-largest
island of Greece, but coming so close to the mainland (in fact,
connected to it by a bridge) that it doesn't look like an island
at all on the map (see
it here). Here too, the voiced β causes ευ- to be
pronounced as [ev], but the resulting double [v] is pronounced as
a single one.

Footnotes (clicking on the footnote number
brings back to the text)

(1) The exception is Cypriot
Greeks, who pronounce exactly like that: [mb`armbas] (not only
this word; they nasalize all cases described here), and make some
other interesting transformations. What I describe in this page
is Athenian Greek, the de facto (or
"received") standard understood throughout the rest of
Greece and Cyprus.

(2) Thanks to my friend, Irma Verόnica Alarcόn, for
supplying the pronunciation of this Spanish word. Notice that
Irma, unlike most other Spanish speakers, pronounces the letter
"v" with the labiodental [v] instead of the bilabial
[β]. This is a feature particular to my friend's pronunciation,
which I did not record in the transcription of "nieve".

(3) Note the diaeresis and the stress over iota.
That’s because υι (without diaeresis) is a digraph in Greek,
pronounced as a single [i] (see the digraphs in the alphabet page). But the upsilon and iota in
ευφυΐα denote two different [i]-sounds, so the diaeresis
shows they are pronounced separately (as a prolonged [i] made of
two parts, and stressed on its second part).